The 2017 Grand Sport offers a Chevy-estimated 1.05g in cornering capability, thanks to the vehicle’s lightweight architecture, downforce-producing aerodynamics package, Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, enhanced cooling package, and limited-slip differential. With the addition of the available Z07 package, which includes Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, that number improves to 1.2g in cornering capability.

The new Corvette GS also has an impressive 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds and can run the quarter-mile in 11.8 seconds at 118 mph, when equipped with the Z07 package and available paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission. The standard transmission is a seven-speed manual with Active Rev Match.

Chevy is referring to the model’s design cues as “heritage-inspired,” as they hark back to the first five Grand Sport race cars that were built in 1963 under the direction of Zora Arkus-Duntov, Corvette’s first chief engineer.

“The racing DNA of the original Grand Sport race cars is in the 2017 model, adding greater dimensions of capability and driver involvement to the Corvette’s award-winning architecture, for a purer driving experience,” said Corvette product marketing manager Harlan Charles. “It is a worthy successor to the spirit of the originals.”

Grand Sport models are offered with the same exterior and interior color palette as the Stingray, which includes new-for-2017 exterior colors like Watkins Glen Gray Metallic, Black Rose Metallic, Admiral Blue Metallic, and Sterling Blue Metallic.

Additionally, the available Heritage package includes hash-mark fender graphics offered in six different colors and full-length stripes offered in five different colors.

Patrick Grieve was born in Southwestern Ohio and has lived there all of his life, with the exception of a few years spent getting a Creative Writing degree in Southeastern Ohio. He loves to take road trips, sometimes to places as distant as Northeastern or even Northwestern Ohio. Patrick also enjoys old movies, shopping at thrift stores, going to ballgames, writing about those things, and watching Law & Order reruns. He just watches the original series, though, none of the spin-offs. And also only the ones they made before Jerry Orbach died. Season five was really the peak, in his opinion. See more articles by Patrick.